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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 28, 2025

Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players
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Effects of a Novel Neuromuscular Training Intervention on Jump, Sprint, and Change of Direction in Adult Female Soccer Players

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How muscles maximize performance in accelerated sprinting.

Marcus G Pandy1, Adrian K M Lai2, Anthony G Schache1,3

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|July 16, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding how leg muscles work together during sprinting is key for athletes and injury recovery. This study reveals specific muscle roles in generating force and maximizing forward momentum during acceleration.

Keywords:
glutealhamstringimpulseplantarflexorpropulsionrunning

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Human Movement Science
  • Sports Physiology

Background:

  • Elite athletes require optimized sprint performance.
  • Understanding muscle function during acceleration is crucial for sports science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively understand synergistic leg muscle actions during accelerated sprinting.
  • To quantify individual muscle contributions to ground force impulse and forward momentum.

Main Methods:

  • Combined musculoskeletal modeling with gait data.
  • Simulated 19 foot contacts of maximal sprint acceleration.
  • Evaluated muscle contributions to vertical (supporter) and fore-aft (accelerator/brake) ground force components.

Main Results:

  • Ankle plantarflexors are critical for acceleration.
  • Soleus primarily supports (vertical impulse); gastrocnemius supports and accelerates (propulsive/upward impulses).
  • Vasti muscles support and brake; hamstrings and gluteus medius accelerate; gluteus maximus decelerates the swinging leg.

Conclusions:

  • Detailed knowledge of lower-limb muscle function during sprint acceleration informs coaching and sports medicine.
  • Optimizing sprint performance and improving injury prevention/rehabilitation strategies are potential applications.